Post protectors

ABSTRACT

A post protector shaped such that any grass or weed cutting mechanism is deflected away from the post thereby avoiding superficial or serious damage to the post. In the preferred embodiment the post protector incorporates an indented center section having specific geometries that resist the cutting mechanism from passing over the top portion or below the bottom portion of the protector. The protector is formed of two detachable halves for ease in installation or removal.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to removable post protectors that can be used forprotecting posts, such as in mail box and fence assemblies, from mowers,trimmers, and cutters, and inhibiting grass and weed growth at the baseof the post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many mail box posts are 4×4 wooded posts that are painted forprotection. This paint deteriorates from natural sources such as rain,sun, and temperature changes. Additionally, lawn garden tools, such aslawn mowers and filament grass trimmers, can damage the paint andunderlying wood base. This damage can create rot from the base woodbeing unprotected, and further, the removal of paint and the resultingdamage is unsightly. Prior art for protecting these posts typicallyconsist of sleeves which encircle or enclose the posts. Some of thesesleeves have an outward flange at the base to limit weed and grassgrowth. The designs with outward flanges at the base leave a spacebetween the sleeve and the post and allow dead grass, leaves, bugs,weeds, and other debris to fill into the space and is unsightly and cancreate damage to the surrounding grass or root system if not removed.Additionally, if these outwardly oriented flanges are not level, watercan build up on top of the flange. Prior art protection sleeves aretypically square in shape and their width, except those with outwardbase flanges, are consistent from the bottom to the top. The walls ofthe sleeves typically are flush with the post. This allows moisture anddirt to remain between the post and the walls of the sleeve via gravityor capillary action, which could cause damage and mold to grow on thepost. Another problem with these sleeves is the failure to providedrifting of the filament blades on grass and weed trimmers. Maintaininggrass cutting height with filamented blade trimmers is very difficult.Due to the inherent flexibility of the blades, they can cut grass muchlower than the operator intended due to the drifting of the bladeheight. Additionally, when the blade comes in contact with a wall orother vertical surface the blades bend up or down and the depth of cutcan vary significantly. With the existing inventions, no means exists tolimit the damage to the post above the protective sleeve. Although someof these devices have a partial flange at the top of the sleeve, theseflanges are designed to force the sleeve into the ground or to removethe sleeve. None of the prior inventions limit the drift of the filamentblades from damaging the post above the sleeves when the blade comesinto contact with the sleeve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is designed for protecting posts, such as in mailbox and fence assemblies, from mowers, trimmers, and cutters, andinhibiting grass and weed growth at the base of the post. The instantpost protector is formed as two halves that when joined together form anelongated column having an opening to receive and protect a post. Eachhalf of the post protector consists of a body with flanges at its topand bottom which extend from the body inwardly toward the post. Thebottom flange inhibits weed growth and along with the top flangestabilizes the column against the post. The elongated column and itsbase is wide enough to inhibit grass and weeds from growing close to thepost. Further, in the preferred embodiment, a center section of theelongated column is shaped either with a concave or V-shaped verticalcross section that allows the cutting means of a trimmer to cut weeds orgrass that have grown above the base of the column while at the sametime resisting the cutting means from sliding down into the surroundingground and damaging grass roots or cutting grass too short. It alsoresists the flexible trimmer blade from sliding up and over theprotector and damaging the unprotected part of the post. Further, thehorizontal cross-section of the protector can be either square or round.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of one half of one embodiment of the post protectorwith a horizontally curved cross section, matching rectangular geometricindentations upon the top and bottom flanges, and an inwardly indentedcenter section having a concave vertical cross section.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the two halves of the post protector of theembodiment of FIG. 1, wherein the attachment means are threadedfasteners.

FIG. 3 is a view of the post protector of FIGS. 1 and 2 being installedon a mailbox post having a square cross section.

FIG. 4 is a view of one half of another embodiment of the post protectorwith a horizontally curved cross section, matching rectangular geometricindentations upon the top and bottom flanges, and no inwardly indentedcenter section.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the two halves of the post protector of theembodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the attachment means are threadedfasteners.

FIG. 6 is a view of the post protector of FIGS. 4 and 5 being installedon a mailbox post having a square cross section.

FIG. 7 is a view of one half of another embodiment of the post protectorwith a horizontally curved cross section, matching curved geometricindentations upon the top and bottom flanges, and an inwardly indentedcenter section having a concave vertical cross section.

FIG. 8 is a view of one half of another embodiment of the post protectorwith a horizontally rectangular cross section, matching rectangulargeometric indentations upon the top and bottom flanges, and an inwardlyindented center section having a V-shaped vertical cross section.

FIG. 9 is a view of one half of another embodiment of the post protectorwith a horizontally curved cross section, matching rectangular geometricindentations upon the top and bottom flanges, and an inwardly indentedcenter section having a concave vertical cross section.

FIG. 10 is a view of the post protector of FIG. 8 being installed on amailbox post having a square cross section.

FIG. 11 is a view of the post protector installed on a mailbox post,wherein the concave center section is deflecting the cutting means of agrass trimming machine away from the top of the protector and therebythe mailbox post.

FIG. 12 is a view of post protectors installed on the posts of a fenceassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the post protector is formed as two halves 1and 2 that are removably joined together via fasteners 4 to form anelongated column having an opening to receive and protect a post 3. Eachhalf of the post protector consists of a body with a leading edge 5, abottom flange 7, a top flange 6, the flanges extend from the bodyinwardly toward the post and include geometric indentations 8 and 9respectively. The halves are removably connected to one another bythreaded fasteners 4 received through holes 10 having recessed holeflanges 11 and protrusion members 12 that align with and are receivedthrough counter bore holes 13 and threadingly received by holes 14,wherein the two halves of the protector are brought together at theiredges 5 and tensioned by fasteners 4. Each half of the protector furtherincludes a bottom portion 15, which protects the base of the post, andaesthetic portions 16 and 17. The bottom flange 7 inhibits weed growthand along with the top flange 6 stabilizes the column against the post.The elongated column and its base is wide enough to inhibit grass andweeds from growing close to the post. Furthermore, each half of the postprotector includes a center section shaped either with a concave orV-shaped (shown as 18) vertical cross section, or a convex verticalcross section (shown as 19) that allows the cutting means 21 of atrimmer 20 to cut weeds or grass that has grown above the base of thecolumn while at the same time resisting the cutting means from slidingdown into the surrounding ground and damaging grass roots or cuttinggrass too short. It also resists the flexible trimmer blade from slidingup and over the protector and damaging the unprotected part of the post.

It is an object of the invention to also combine the post protector withposts from mailboxes or fence assemblies. As shown in FIG. 12, the posts26 of fence assembly 27 each have a post protector 25 attached at thebottom thereof to thereby protect each fence post from the same hazardsdiscussed above.

It is an object of the invention to limit the growth of weeds and grassat the base of the post by means of an inwardly directed flange (i.e.,members 7) contiguous with the sidewalls and engagable with the groundor top of the post and which emanates toward the post which maintainsthe stability of the sleeve. Said flange is inwardly oriented andtherefore, no debris, such as leaves, trash, grass or weed cuttings willaccumulate on the flange.

It is another object of the invention to provide a distance buffer fromthe post to any lawn gardening implement such as lawn mowers, lawnfertilizer spreaders, edgers, or motorized equipment that may haveprotruding objects that could damage the post not protected by thesleeve. Such distance is establish by means of an annulus (inner space)between the post and the inner wall of the protector. Said annulus ishollow and limits the buildup of moisture and debris between the innerwalls of the protector and the post.

It is an object of the invention to provide a concave or indented centersection (i.e., members 18 and 19) around the perimeter of the protectorthat resists the flexible blades of a weed trimmer from drifting upabove the sleeve and damaging the post above the sleeve and also fromdrifting down below the base and removing more grass than intended.

It is a object of the invention to allow the sleeve to float on thegrass root surface for turf grass that has variable root surface levels,such as St. Augustine grass. This is accomplished when the protector isnot tightened around the post to include friction thereon. Therefore theprotector is free to slide up and down the post depending on the heightof the grass.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a buffer between thegrass surrounding the sleeve to the outer surface of the protector wallat cutting height to allow a more efficient cutting angle for the grasstrimmer. In other words, the concave or indented center section of thesleeve allows the blade of the cutter to be at a more perpendiculartrajectory to the grass being cut. The blade impacting the bufferedgrass will be at a more perpendicular angle and more efficient atcutting the buffered grass than the curved part of the blade that willbe curved.

The horizontal cross-section of the protector can be either square orround. The center section vertical cross-section can have either acurved or angular shape.

Any and all other obvious modifications to one or more of the parts ofthis invention are inherently incorporated herein.

1. A post protector comprising two substantially identical verticalhalves, each said vertical half including a body having a top portionand bottom portion separated vertically; a horizontal flange connectedto the top portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometricindentation at its distal end; a horizontal flange connected to thebottom portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometric indentationat its distal end congruous to the geometric indentation of the flangeat the top portion; fastening means for connecting the two verticalhalves together, such that when the two halves are joined together theedges of each half and the end sections of the flanges contact to forman elongated protector having a central opening for receiving andprotecting a post.
 2. The post protector of claim 1, wherein thegeometric indentations of the top and bottom flanges are of arectangular shape.
 3. The post protector of claim 1, wherein thegeometric indentations of the top and bottom flanges are of a circularshape.
 4. The post protector of claim 1, wherein each body has a curvedhorizontal cross-section.
 5. The post protector of claim 1, wherein eachbody has a rectangular horizontal cross-section.
 6. The post protectorof claim 1, wherein the fastening means includes holes and threadedfasteners.
 7. The post protector of claim 1, wherein the vertical halvesform a dome shape.
 8. The post protector of claim 1, wherein thevertical halves each have an inwardly indented center section, such thatwhen the two halves are connected together the indented center sectionsform a continuous indented center section extending the entirehorizontal circumference of the body and defining an area between thetop and bottom portions adapted to deflect any cutting means frompassing over said top portion or below said bottom portion.
 9. The postand post protector system of claim 8, wherein the indented section has aconcave vertical cross section.
 10. The post and post protector systemof claim 8, wherein the indented section has a V-shaped vertical crosssection.
 11. A post and post protector system comprising an elongatedpost; and a post protector comprising two substantially identicalvertical halves, each said vertical half including a body having a topportion and bottom portion separated vertically; a horizontal flangeconnected to the top portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometricindentation at its distal end; a horizontal flange connected to thebottom portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometric indentationat its distal end congruous to the geometric indentation of the flangeat the top portion; fastening means for connecting the two verticalhalves together, such that when the two halves are joined together theedges of each half and the end sections of the flanges contact to forman elongated protector having a central opening for receiving andprotecting a post.
 12. The post protector of claim 11, wherein thegeometric indentations of the top and bottom flanges are of arectangular shape.
 13. The post protector of claim 11, wherein thegeometric indentations of the top and bottom flanges are of a circularshape.
 14. The post protector of claim 11, wherein each body has acurved horizontal cross-section.
 15. The post protector of claim 11,wherein each body has a rectangular horizontal cross-section.
 16. Thepost protector of claim 11, wherein the fastening means includes holesand threaded fasteners.
 17. The post protector of claim 11, wherein thevertical halves form a dome shape.
 18. The post protector of claim 11,wherein the vertical halves each have an inwardly indented centersection, such that when the two halves are connected together theindented center sections form a continuous indented center sectionextending the entire horizontal circumference of the body and definingan area between the top and bottom portions adapted to deflect anycutting means from passing over said top portion or below said bottomportion.
 19. A fence assembly comprising a plurality of posts; aplurality of cross pieces; and a plurality of post protectors, whereineach post protector comprising two substantially identical verticalhalves, each said vertical half including a body having a top portionand bottom portion separated vertically; a horizontal flange connectedto the top portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometricindentation at its distal end; a horizontal flange connected to thebottom portion, extending inwardly, and having a geometric indentationat its distal end congruous to the geometric indentation of the flangeat the top portion; fastening means for connecting the two verticalhalves together, such that when the two halves are joined together theedges of each half and the end sections of the flanges contact to forman elongated post having a central opening for receiving and protectinga post.
 20. The post protector of claim 19, wherein the vertical halveseach have an inwardly indented center section, such that when the twohalves are connected together the indented center sections form acontinuous indented center section extending the entire horizontalcircumference of the body and defining an area between the top andbottom portions adapted to deflect any cutting means from passing oversaid top portion or below said bottom portion.